(If the Islamic State takes Baghdad, use of airstrikes by the “coalition of the willing” without “boots on the ground” will bring multiple civilian casualties and be problematical, at best. Iraqi boots? They might help, but only after a year or more of training. — DM)

Peshmerga fighters hold a position behind sandbags at a post in the strategic Jalawla area, in Diyala province, which is a gateway to Baghdad, as battles with Islamic State (IS) jihadists continue on September 27, 2014. The United States, which leads the coalition, initially launched strikes in Iraq on August 8 and widened its campaign on September 23, 2014 to include Syria, where IS has its headquarters. SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images

The Islamic State group is allegedly closing in on Baghdad, according to a…